Our nation’s veterans deserve better. We owe them.

We can no longer shove them aside and not address their needs when they return home after serving our country. They deserve quality, accessible healthcare. We need to take a good hard look at the VA application process, VA health care facilities, equipment and systems to see where we can improve. We need to address the mental health needs of our vets and give them the care they need to cope with the difficulties such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), physical therapy and rehabilitation that often come after being in combat. We must ensure that our female veterans receive the specialized gender-specific care that is necessary to their health and well being.

One of the areas that we are failing our veterans is in the lack of educational and vocational assistance that they need when they return home.We can be better if we work to establish programs that address the full range of issues that our veterans face. Instead of continuing to cut needed services, we will begin to show them the respect that they deserve.

We also cannot leave behind the families of our servicemen and servicewomen that gave the ultimate sacrifice. We need to make every effort to streamline the benefits process for grieving families and make sure that their needs are met.

We make a promise to our young military men and women and we are failing to uphold that promise. Let’s change that.